I'm interested in the Sanders' mindset...are there other reasons besides the five mentioned in this article that have any logic or fact-base to them?

That all Democratic voters deserved to be heard.

Everyone gets to vote and we move on to the GE.

not sure I understand what you are saying.

...but he has threatened to take it to the convention.

Last edited Sat May 21, 2016, 12:47 PM - Edit history (1)

I don't know how "fresh" they are, since I, and others, have been offering them up for quite some time, but here you go:

Every voter deserves a voice. It's undemocratic, and therefore reflects poorly on the "Democratic" Party, to leave millions of voters without someone they are willing to vote for. That's really the main reason left; most of the rest I've got would be sub-categories, or parallel categories, for what you've already posted. I know that I'm not one of the young voters referred to; I'm 56. But I also know that this is the last opportunity for the Democratic Party to earn back my respect or support, and they are rapidly burning those bridges. A completed primary and an honest, fair convention are the only ways to keep my attention, involvement, or investment post-convention.

...drop out after California (or DC) but not take it to the convention?

For two reasons.

The good, correct reason: We all deserve a voice, and our voice, and our issues, deserve a place at the convention. Clinton and the Democratic Party establishment are sure as hell not going to give us a place there.

The other emotional reason: I'd love to cause Hillary's campaign and her supporters as much frustration and teeth gnashing as possible, because they are the obstacle to the positive change our country needs. I'll be a pebble in their shoe, a churning in their gut, or whatever it takes to move the complacency and condescension down several notches.

And yes, I'm aware of the irony in that emotional reason, but that's emotion...it bypasses actual reason. I am self-aware enough to know that it exists, to acknowledge it, and hopefully move on.

I think Sanders should stay and fight all the way to the convention. If, at that point, the corruption of the party establishment and Clinton's own baggage doesn't drag her down, and she is nominated, he should go back to the Senate and continue the fight from there.

I will move on and focus the fight in other arenas, because I know that HRC will not, even if she wins in November, be working for the progressive movement/revolution. I don't believe that she'll win in November.

...that your viewpoint is grounded in emotion, not logic. That is true for all Sanders supporters. Logic should tell you, do EVERYTHING in your power to prevent the GOP, including Donald Trump, from being in the White House. I would vote for ANY Democrat over ANY Republican. Bernie lost, please get out of the race and help us win.

In other words, your emotion, however strongly felt, is hurting #StopGOP #StopTrump. I don't care if Hillary is flawed. She is who we nominated. Get focused on REALITY, in particuarly the REALITY that we must #STOPGOP #STOPTRUMP!

I conceded that ONE reason wasn't grounded in logic. Let's not twist my words, nor my meaning.

Also, I would point out that reason flew out the window when you said "That is true for all Sanders supporters." That statement right there is an argument from omniscience, and obviously false.

Your "in other words" are yours, and your interpretation, to be kind, is faulty. To say the least.

In other words:

Hillary Clinton's issues and priorities are not mine. I understand and freely acknowledge this. Therefore, my focus will be elsewhere. That has absolutely nothing to do with the GOP or Donald Trump, and everything to do with Hillary Clinton. That's reality, and I'm completely focused on it, thanks.

You might want to stick to facts. "We" haven't nominated anyone yet. That doesn't happen until the convention, and that's reality. It's also reality that trying to bully people into your "reality" is more likely to chase most away than get them to join your "we."

I'll stop. I hope when the dust settles you cast your vote for Hillary Clinton rather than sitting it out or, god forbid, Donald Trump. Have a good day!

for a movement to disenfranchise women and minority voters...get out Sanders. You have lost the primary.

Doesn't happen hardly ever. The primary is not over whether anybody like it or not.

Bernie is not winning 70/30. You understand that, right? And that's what he needs. She's up by 10 in California!

He's not hurting anything except some people's worries (justified or not) or delicate sensibilities.

Everyday HRC has to deal with Bernie is a day she cannot go after Trump.

It is a huge issue...I'm honestly puzzled. Bernie's status is the most talked about issue in the campaigns right now, certainly on the Dem side? What do you mean?

The ONLY message they put out is that they are staying in to the convention. What part of that do you and the brain dead pundits not get?

They are just trying to create a non-existent narrative. By "non-existent" I mean it is IMAGINARY. It is only a figment of their imaginations. There is NO possibility of that happening by the Sanders campaign. They are trying to stir things up And YOU were either complicit or uninformed enough to fall into it.

...I just think it is incredibly stupid and selfish on Bernie's part to stay in the race until the convention. Let him stay until the DC primary -- so everyone has had a chance to vote -- and then stop damaging the #StopTrump goal. That's why it is an issue....it makes no sense for him to continue after DC, if it even makes sense now. How do you address these arguments?

If someone in your household was doing something stupid -- say bashing their head against a wall for no reason -- would you say, "Hmm, this is not an issue because they say they are not going to stop." Or would you try to persuade them otherwise? Indeed, if they were doing so, would that not be the biggest issue in your house, whether they thought so or not?

This is nonsense.

...blind and not logical. Just pointless, mindless rage. Never willing to actually have a point-by-point discussion. Just raw emotion. No willingness to engage in a dialogue.

...I am certain if he loses his California he will drop out. And boy will you look silly.

The moment it dawns on him and his supporters that they lost is going to be like a locker room version of the losers of the Superbowl. I wouldn't miss that for the world.

If I go it will be trouble. If I stay it will be double.

or after the DC primary.

If Bernie tries to overturn SD's at the convention my respect for him will be gone. I don't support overturning the will of a major and loyal part of our base, women and black Americans. Progressives should not even consider this. Fortunately I don't think he'll do this.

In fact I don't think SD's should ever overturn the popular or pledged delegate vote unless the presumptive nominee is hit with a major scandal or crime, something along those lines.

As long as she is under investigation Bernie should stay in.

and won the popular vote...Sanders has lost by all measures...he should have conceded already ...and needs to go after California and Jersey.

But if he is behind in the pledged delegates after that, assuming no major shift, he should respect the will of the voters and step aside, and then work for reforms in the nominating process for 2020.

But tactically I think it would be a good idea for him to be more like he was at the beginning of this (and I also think that this is true of everybody--of Hillary, and of Bernie's and Hillary's supporters, too). One of the things I liked about him was his decision to not run a negative campaign, and Hillary seemed to be doing the same thing. This, obviously, has changed.

I'm realistic. He's not going to be the nominee unless something really, really unlikely happens. But when he started out, his purpose was to move the dialogue leftwards, and in that he started to succeed, until the animosity between the two candidates and their supporters started closing minds on both sides.

They both need to be a lot nicer to each other--and god knows I wish their supporters would be nicer to each other--because Hillary absolutely needs Bernie's supporters in the general election, and Bernie needs to restore his opportunity to be listened to, as was his original modest goal, rather than shut out.

I'll vote for the non-Trump nominee no matter what. I don't need to be persuaded. But pressuring Bernie to drop out just because he's in Hillary's way is not going to win the hearts and minds of most of the people Hillary will need in November. It's just such a dumb move on the DNC's part. If he's not a threat to Hillary, as they keep saying he's not, they should cut it out.

I don't think the platform's being more left-leaning will hurt Clinton in the GE. People elect candidates, not party platforms, and Sanders's more progressive ideas are popular anyways.

Also, Sanders wants to foment a revolution. And arguably that revolution is the most important thing. If that means staying in the race until the votes are counted at the convention, then maybe he should stay in. On the other hand, I can also see the argument that Trump is a special case of bat-shit crazy and so we must do everything to stop him. But that raises the tough question of whether Sanders' staying in until the vote at the convention would hurt Clinton. It might generate more news and take some of the coverage away from Trump. Can you imagine how boring the Dem convention will be if it is only Hillary there? I am not sure what would hurt or help Clinton. So I am prepared to concede that Bernie should drop out immediately after the last primary.

It is sad that she is the best we can put forward to oppose bat-shit crazy, but oh well.

I do think the Obama coronation at the 2008 convention was amazing, with Bill, Hillary, Michelle and Obama all giving stunning speeches. I look for more of this same this year in a unified convention that makes Trump look like the classless garbage that he is.

If he stays until the convention...his career is over and he may cause riots as well...some legacy.